SAULT STE. MARIE — Final recommendations for Moloney's Alley will be delivered on Wednesday when a team of experts from Michigan State University and the Michigan Municipal League return to Sault Ste. Marie to share their findings with the community.

Wednesday's presentation, slated for 5 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza Ojibway Hotel Conference Area, will mark the conclusion of a process that started in November 2012.

"They will give us a nice little final packet," said City Manager Spencer Nebel of the planning phase, "and the project will be completed."

Eagerly anticipating Wednesday's formal presentation, Nebel admitted acceptance of the document only provides a blue print for the future and in no way guarantees the area will undergo all of the proposed improvements.

"The general idea is it will give us a concept of how this area could be developed," he said. "It may end up looking quite different 20 years from now."

The Moloney Alley Design Charrette focused on five privately-owned properties which include the former home of Sault Co-Op Grocery Store west of Osborn Boulevard and everything between Moloney's Alley and Ridge Street to the back of the China Cate and The Downtowner Bar.

The final proposal, which will be unveiled on Monday, is expected to generate more foot traffic around the corner of W. Portage and Ashmun Street to capitalize on the tourist traffic visiting the Soo Locks. Preliminary concepts also seem to indicate that various housing and residential structures could be developed to attract more people to this vital section of Downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

Nebel indicated that with a plan in place, the city would be better positioned in two ways. First of all, they would have something to show developers as a starting point to spark private investment in the area. Secondly, and perhaps even more important, the plan could provide access to various state and federal grants to help fund the project.

"It's a great starting point," said Nebel characterizing the effort as a worthwhile process. "But it's not a quick process at all. We will get the end result — then we will still have a lot of work to do."